Game apparatus.



J. M. STIVERS. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910.

974,721 Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

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J. M. STIVERS.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR.12, 1910.

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GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MA'B.12, 1910.

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J. M. STIVHRS. GAME APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED MAB.12, 1910.

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J. M. STIVERS. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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APPLICATION FILED MARJZ, 1910.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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JAKE MANFRED STIVERS, OF SALIDA, COLORADO.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No. 548,977.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAKE M. SrIvnRs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salida, in the county of Chaffee and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates a mechanism for the automatic control of game apparatus, and more particularly relates to a mechanism for regulating the use of pool and billiard tables.

More particularly, my invention pertains to a mechanism suitably located with relation to the pool or billiard tables to be used, which, when started into operation, maintains control of a covering device to remove the latter, keep it in removed position for alimited period of time, and to return said covering device at the end of said period of time.

The mechanism mentioned constitutes, in general, a coin-operated device which acts as a circuit closer to actuate a reeling apparatus upon which a curtain or cover for the table is mounted, and is usually located upon the wall adjacent its particular table. It will thus be evident that the table covering means may be controlled from a distance, and will not in any particular interfere with the free use of the game table, when the latter is uncovered. It will be seen also, that a set of game tables of the nature described may be properly and systematically operated without the presence of the usual attendant or attendants necessary in establishments of this nature.

it-h the object of furnishing a system of the nature above generally explained which will be thorough and capable of installation in any of the billiard halls, club rooms and similar institutions where an automatic control system is desired, my invention will hereinafter be fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a poolroom, showing two billiard-tables, and the invention in use in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the coin cabinet, the front of the cabinet being removed to show the motor, switch, and timing and switch-shifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3,

of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional View taken on the line 33, of Fig. 2, but showing the parts of Fig. 3 in different position. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are edge elevations of certain gear wheels employed. Fig. 9 is a fragmental elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2-, but showing some of the parts in different position. Fig. 10 is a fraginental side elevation, on smaller scale, of a pool or billiard table, showing the improvements attached thereto. Fig. 11 is a fragmental plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a fragmental sectional view, taken on the line 1212, of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is an inverted plan view, on same scale as Figs. 2 to 9, showing the cover-moving apparatus, and table motor and switch for controlling the same. Fig. 14 is a chart showing the electrical source, coin-chutes of the cabinet, electro-magnet, switches, and the electric wiring and other connections. Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 are charts showing the wiring exactly as in Fig. 14, and the different positions assumed by the different parts during the use of the table for a game.

Although Fig. 2 is an elevation view and Fig. 13 an inverted plan view, they are both treated as elevation views in the ensuing description, so that they may be placed side by side and the wiring traced from one figure to the other.

The left-hand portions of Figs. 14 to 19 represent the electrical source, and the motor, switches, magnet, switch-locking device, and coin-chutes of the cabinet, while the right-hand portions represent the table switch, motor, and motor field-coils. In Figs. 14 to 19, the electrical source, motors, coils, elect-ro-magnet, and the wiring, are symbolized in the manner usual in electrical drawings, while the coinchutes, switches, switch-locking mechanism, and other parts necessary to appear in these figures are, as nearly as possible, shown as actually constructed. To make Figs. 14 to 19 quickly and easily readable, the motors, coils, magnet, contact-bars of switches, coin-chute gates and connections, and other parts through which no current is flowing are shown in fine lines, while similar parts through which current is passing are shown in very heavy lines or in solid black. All parts not designed to conduct current are designated by reference numerals below 200, while those required to conduct current are designated by numerals above 200, similar characters designating like parts throughout all the figures.

The cabinet 20 comprises a rearwardlyrecessed metal back 21, with properly attached sides, top, bottom, and front. This cabinet is provided at its lower end with a tiltable coin-support 22 upon which the coins drop for inspection after passing through the coin-chutes later described, the front 23 of the cabinet being provided )vith a window through which coins may be viewed and judged as'to quality. This coin-support 22 is mounted pivotally in the cabinet sides 25, one of the pivots being adapted to lock said support against movement, and being operable'only by the introduction of a key of proper combination. A removable coindrawer is provided immediately below the support 22, where the coins dropping therefrom may fall into it.

Two coin-chutes 26 and 27 are mounted in the upper part of the cabinet 20, one chute 26 being adapted to receive coins of smaller value, such as dimes, and the other larger coins, such as quarter dollars. Each chute comprises a back member 28 and a front member 29, both of nonconducting material and strips of sheet metal 201 and 30 are interposed and secured between the edges of said members to complete said chutes. The upper wall 32 of the cabinet 20 is slotted, as at 33, to allow the dropping of the coins into the chutes 26 and 27, the edge or metal members 201 and 30 of said chutes projecting up through said slots, as at 202 and 34, to aid customers in putting in the coins. The rear member 28 of each of the coin-chutes is provided with integral slotted lugs 85, through which screws 36 pass to secure said chutes to the back 21, the slots of said lugs allowing adjustment of said chutes laterally of the cabinet for purposes later described. To support the coins in the bottoms of the chutes, the lower end of the strip 201 is curved inward, as at 203, and the opposite edge of the chute is provided-with a simi= larly-curved tilt-able gate 204 adapted to open outward at its lower edge for releasing the coins. A bowspring 37 is provided to hold the gate 204 in closed position or in open position, said spring having one of its ends pivotally secured to said gate and its opposite end likewise secured to a lug 31 on the chute strip 30, the pivotal point of said spring and gate being so positioned as to cross a deadcenter line X-X in moving from one position to the other, and thus holding said gate in its extreme closed or open position. Associated with each coinchute is a vertically-disposed revoluble shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39 projecting from the rear member 28 of said chute. This shaft 38 is provided at its lower end with a radial arm 40, and the free end of said arm is provided with an arc-shaped finger 41 adapted to pass back through the lower end of the coin space 42 of the chutes through openings 43 in the front and back members thereof. The shaft 38 is also provided with a crank-arm 44 radially opposing the arm 40, said crank-arm carrying at its free end a small roller 45 adapted to be acted upon by parts later described to cause the finger 41 of the arm 40 to either pass through the coin-chute or press clampingly against the lower coin contained in said chute;

Mounted just below the coin-chutes 26 and 27 is a traveling bar 46, said bar being supported by guiding strips 47 secured to the back plate 21 of the cabinet, so that it may have reciprocating movement laterally of the cabinet, for purposes later described. The movement of this bar 46 toward the left, or in the direction of the arrow A, and the simultaneous movements of all parts operatively connected with or supported by said bar, will be known hereinafter as the time movements of said bar and parts, while the movements of said bar and parts in the op posite direction will be known as their return movements. The bar 46 has secured to its front face a leaf spring 48, and also a horizontal bar or stop 50 whose end is placed in close contiguity to the free end of said spring. When the bar 46 moves on its return travel the leaf spring 48 yieldably engages the small roller 45 on the crank-arm 44, swinging the crank-arm outward, and the arm 40 inward, so that the finger 41 clampingly engages the coin in the first or dime chute 26, said bar 46 continuing to move until the end of the stop 50 abuts said roller and positively stops movement of said bar. If there be no coin in the dime chute 26, the finger 41 will pass back through said chute, thus allowing the bar 46 to travel unresisted on toward the quarter-dollar chute 27. Just after the spring 48 has begun to act upon the crank-arm 44, and has thus caused the finger 41 to clamp the coin agalnst movement from said chute, a small detent 51 pivoted to the front face of the bar 46 engages a hook 205 on the outer lower edge of the chute gate 204, thus moving said gate toward open position until its pivotal connection with the bow-spring 37 crosses the dead-center line X-X aforesaid, at which time said gate flips from dead-center position fully open just before the sliding movement of the bar 46 is stopped by the abutting of its stop 50 against the crankarm roller 45.

In swinging the lower end of the gate 204 1nto open position, the upper part of the gate swings into the coin space of the chute, as shown in Figs. 9 and 16, thus preventing the downward movement of the second coin until said gate is brought again to closed position. The positive stopping of the bar 46 on its return movement causes the mechanism actuating said bar to be re versed in action for moving said bar on its time movement, as later described. Upon the time movement of the bar 46, the engagement of its spring 48 with the crank-arm roller 45 is released,'thus releasing the engagement of the finger 41 with the coin and allowing said coin to drop out past the gate 204; and as said bar 46 continues to move in said direction another detent 52 pivoted thereto engages a hook 206 on the lower inner edge of the gate 204, thus moving said gate toward closed position past its deadcenter line XX and allowing it to flip shut. Upon closing the gate 204 as described, the coin previously detained by the upper portion thereof is allowed to drop down into the position occupied by the first or lowest coin.

By the arrangement of parts later described, the time movement of the bar 46 is many times slower than its return movement, said slow or time movement being so adjusted that said bar in traveling from its starting point to positive stopping will keep the table uncovered for the proper length of game say one minute for each cent of coin value. The quarter-dollar chute 27 is so adjusted in position that the bar 46 in moving therefrom to positive stopping will require twenty-five tenths of the time required to travel from the dime chute, or said chute 27 may, if desired, be adjusted to allow a greater length of time travel from said chute, and consequently a greater length of game, as an inducement to customers to insert quarter-dollars. The left-hand end of the bar 46 is provided with an adjustingscrew 53 whose point end is adapted to abut against the cabinet side 25 to positively stop the time travel of said bar, and said screw may be adjusted to time the stopping of said bar relatively to the action of other parts controlling the movements of said bar.

Mounted below the bar 46 is a disk 54, said disk being mounted on a stud 55 projecting from the cabinet back 21 and having reciprocating revolving movement on said stud. Mounted also on the same stud 55 is a second and smaller disk 56, and a third and still smaller disk 57, all of said disks 54, 56, and 57 lying in movable contact. An arm 58 is also mounted on the stud 55 over the disks 54, 56, and 57, and a rearwardly or inwardly-projecting portion of the free end of said arm projects into and is embraced by a notch 59 in the outer disk 57, said notch being of such dimensions circumferentially as to allow a limited relative movement of said arm and disk. A lever 60 is mounted pivotally upon the upper edge of the disk 54, the outer or upper end of said lever being operatively connected to the sliding bar 46 by a connecting rod 61 which attaches to a lug 62 on said bar. The inner or lower end of this lever 60 is formed into a gear segment 63, and has gear engagement with the smallest or outer disk 57 for purposes later described.

F or producing reciprocating revolution of the large disk 54 and the time and return movements of the bar 46, a small gear pinion 64 is mounted upon a stud 65 projecting from the cabinet back 21, said pinion having gear engagement with said disk 54. To drive the pinion 64, a similar pinion 66 is mounted upon the end of a tiltable lever 67 in such manner that said pinions 66 and 64 are in permanent engagement. This arrangement so supports the gear pinion 66 that it may have engagement with either a gear pinion 68 mounted upon a stud 69 above it, or with a similar pinion 7 O mounted upon a stud 71 below it. The end of the lever 67 opposite the pinion 66 projects towe d the stud 55 and is operatively engaged by a notch 72 in the edge of the sec- 0nd disk 56.

In order that the lower pinion may have very slow movement relatively to the upper pinion 68, said pinions are operatively connected by a train of speed-reducing gearing comprising the gear pinions 73, 74, and 75, and the gear wheels 76, 77, and 78, shown in Figs. 2, 9 and 5 to 8.

As is shown in Fig. 5, the pinions 73 and 68 are connected together by a tubular sleeve 79, and the forward or outer end of said sleeve carries a toothed gear wheel 80. This worm wheel is driven by a worm pinion 81 on a shaft 82, said shaft being journaled in bearings 83 secured to the cabinet back 21. This shaft 82 is provided with a belt pulley 84 which derives motion, through a belt 85, from a smaller pulley 86 on the shaft of an electric motor 203 mounted in the upper part of the cabinet 20.

The arm 58 has attached pivotally to its free end a small rod 88 whose free end passes slidably through a pivoted stud 89 projecting from the cabinet 21. A helical compression spring 90 embracing this rod 88 is interposed between the stud 89 and the shouldered pivotal end of said rod 88, the effect of said spring being to hold said arm to the limit of its throw on one side or the other of a dead-center line UU.

An electric switch 91 is mounted in the lower right-hand corner of the cabinet 20, said switch comprising two supporting and guiding blocks 92 secured to the cabinet back 21 for supporting pairs of circuit termina ls, and a sliding block 93 carrying contact or circuit-closing bars 220. The circuit terminals supported by the blocks 92 are formed of headed metal pins 95 whose points are in sorted into said blocks, and the electric wires are also inserted into the sides of said blocks and attached to said pins as shown. For

shifting the switch 91, a lever 96 is fulcrumed on a stud 97 projecting from one of the blocks 92 in such position that one of its ends 98 is movable over the sliding block 93. This end of the lever has secured pivotally to it a small rod 99 whose free end passes slidably through a pivoted stud 100 projecting from the cabinet back 21. A helical compression spring 101 embracing the rod 99 is interposed between the shouldered pivotal end of the rod 99 and the stud 100, and adapted to hold the lever 96 to the limit of its throw on one side or the other of a dead-center line lV-lV. A plate of sheet metal 102, having its ends 103 bent outward to be engaged by the end of the lever 96, is riveted to the sliding block 93 in such position that when said arm is flipped fromdead-center by the spring 101 it strikes one of said ends, moving the block 93 and shifting its contact-bars 220 quickly from one pair of terminals to another.

Associated with the switch 91 is a vertically-movable bar 104 mounted slidably inbearings 105 secured to the cabinet back 21. This bar 104 has two integral projections 106 straddling and operatively engaging a pin 107 on the end 108 of the lever 96. The upper end of the bar 104 has a hooked projection 109 adapted to be engaged by an arm 110 on the disk 54, so that during the time movement of said disk said arm slides the bar 1.04 upward until the lever 96 crosses the dead-center line WVlV, at which instant said lever is flipped to the limit of its throw by the spring 101, and the switch into the position shown in Figs. 2, 14, 15, and 18. Upon return movement, then, of the disk 54 its arm 110 engages the shoulder 111 on the bar 104, thus sliding said bar downward until the lever 96 approaches and is flipped past the dead-center line lV- W in the opposite direction and shifts the switch into the position shown in Figs. 9, 16, 17, and 19. As the bar 96 flips to the lower limit of its throw the arm 110 may pass free of said shoulder to complete its return travel with its disk 54 into the position shown in Fig. 9. To prevent the shifting of the switch 91 at certain times for purposes later described, the sliding block 93 thereof is provided with a notch 112 adapted to receive the end of a locking-rod 113 whose locking end is mounted slidably in the adjacent guiding block 92 of the switch. The opposite end of this locking-rod 113 is pivoted to the up wardly-projecting arm 114 of a bell-lever 115 which is pivoted on a stud or screw 116 to the cabinet back 21. The opposite or horizontal arm 117 of the bell-lever 115 is formed into an armature 118, and an electro-magnet 207 which is adapted to raise said armature to thrust the rod 113 into the notch 112 of the shifting block 93 is supported by a bracket 120 on the cabinet back 21.

A small electric switch 121 is placed close to the lower edge of the large disk 54, and is adapted to control the current for energizing the magnet 207. This switch 121 con sists of a supporting block 122 secured to the cabinet back 21, and a resilient metal tongue or contact-bar 208 which is secured to said block by a small bolt 209. At the end of the block opposite the bolt 209 a similar bolt 210 passes down through said block in position to have the free end of the tongue 208 spring down and contact with its head, and in wiring up this switch into circuit with the electro-magnet 207 one wire is attached to said bolt 210 and the other to the first-named bolt 209 whose head contacts the stationary end of said tongue 208. To close this switch 121, a small bell-lever 123 is pivoted to the lower portion of the large disk 54 in such manner that as said disk revolves on its time travel one arm 124 of said lever drags across a stud 125 just above the tongue 208, finally dragging out of contact with said stud and toreing the free end of said tongue 208 into contact with its bolt or circuit-terminal 210,\9

bar 46, whether there be current furnishedl for energizing the magnet 207 or not. To allow the arm 124 to pass back past the stud 125 upon return movement of the disk 54, the arm 127 of said lever is engaged by a radical arm 128 onthe second disk 56 as said disk is flipped into the position shown in Fig. 2, and in traveling back past said arm 128 during the return movement of the disk 54 the arm 127 drags past the end of said arm 128 and is flipped to the limit of its swing against a pin 129 on the disk 54 by the aforesaid spring 126, into the position shown in Fig. 9.

In arranging the cover for the table, and its controlling mechanism, carriage-guiding rails 130 are provided and attached to opposite sides of the table. Each of these rails is provided upon its exterior face with an under-cut groove 131 in which a sliding footpiece 132 is adapted to travel. Each of the foot-pieces 132 supports a cover-supporting standard 133 which is made self adjustable in height, and said standard, taken with its mating standard of the opposite rail, supports a roller 134 transversely of the table around which a cover member of cloth, felt, or other suitable flexible material is wound. One of the pintles 136 of the roller 134 is mounted stationary on its supporting standard 133, and revoluble within said roller, said pintle being operatively connected with and adapted to revolve said roller by a long helical spring 137 encircling said pintle in.- side said roller. In setting this spring for action, it is wound or placed under tension for revolving the roller 134 and gathering up the cover 135 as said roller is carried from uncovered to covered position over the table, and the unwound end of said cover 135 is secured permanently at one end of the table. Then, as the two standards 133 are moved along their rails 130 from covered to uncovered position the roller 134 will wind up the cover 135 around it, said roller and its wound cover finally dropping over the end of the table into a supporting trough, as shown by the dotted representations 135 in Fig. 10. In carrying the roller 134 back toward covering position, the cover 135 unwinds therefrom, revolving said roller against the action of the spring 137 and lying flatly upon the common cushion-rails 138 of the table without disturbing any game balls that may lie upon the table surface.

To move the standards 133, flexible cables 139 and 140 are secured to opposite ends of the foot-pieces 132, upon each side of the table, said cables lying within the grooves 131 and passing over pulleys 141 at the rail ends. After passing over the pulleys-141, the cables pass back under the rails 130 to a point centrally thereof, where they pass over pulleys 142 and down obliquely to and over like pulleys 143 secured to the table. The cables then pass horizontally to and around a two-part drum 144 whose shaft 145 is journaled in bearings 146on a cast-metal plate 147 secured to the under face of the table.

The cables 139, which draw the standards 133 for uncovering the table, are wound around one portion 148 of the drum 144, while the cables 140, which draw the parts for covering the table, are wound around the other port-ion 149 of said drum in the reverse direction, the cables 139 being wound up fully on the drum when the others 140 are fully unwound. To take up the slack or expansion of the cables, one portion of the drum 144 is mounted revolubly on the shaft- 145 with relation to the other portion, said portions being operatively connected to gether by a ratchet mechanism comprising inclined teeth 150 on the end face on one por tion, and a spring-actuated pawl 151 on the end of the other portion to engage said teeth. The portion 148 of the drum mounted loosely upon the shaft 145 is operatively connected with said shaft by a helical spring 152, said spring being placed under tension and so set as to maintain a taut condition of said cables, and the expansion taken up by said spring is retained by the ratchet mechanism aforesaid.

To drive the drum 144 for uncovering and covering the table, an end flange 153 of said drum is formed into a worm-gear wheel, and is driven by a worm pinion 154 on a small shaft 155 journaled on the cast plate 147. The outer end of this shaft 155 is provided with a belt pulley 156 which derives motion, through a belt 157, from a similar pulley 158 on the shaft of the reversible table motor 230.

A switch 160, referred to above as the taone of the blocks 161 in position to have its.

end 165 move over the sliding block 162, and a small rod 166 is pivotally secured to said end 165, the free end of said rod passing slidably through a pivoted stud 167 on the plate 147. A helical spring 168 which embraces the rod 166 is interposed between the end of the lever 164 and the stud 167, the effect of said spring being to hold said lever to the limit of its swing on one side or the other of a dead-center line Z'-Z. The sliding block 162 has riveted to it a metal cleat 169, and as the end of the lever 164 is flipped from the dead-center line ZZ to the limit of its throw it strikes one of the projecting ends 170 of said cleat and quickly shift-s the switch 160 for passing the current over the different circuits.

The shaft 145 is screw-threaded, and a traveling tubular carriage 171 embracing this shaft is engaged by the screw threads and adapted to travel from one end to the other thereof as the drum 144 is revolved for uncovering and covering the table. This carriage 171 is provided at its ends with stops 172, and the end 173 of the lever 164 projects between and in the path of said stops in such manner that when said carriage is moved from one end to the other of its throw it moves said lever across the deadcenter line Z-Z, said lever then flipping to the limit of its throw and quickly shifting the switch 160. The stops 172 are in the form of screw nuts engaging the screwthreaded exterior of the carriage 171 for adjustment of their position. so that in fitting the parts to game tables of different lengths said stops can be set to shift the switch 160 exactly at the instant that the table is completely covered or uncovered. Lock nuts 174 are provided to lock the stops 172 in adjusted position. The carriage 171 is pro vided with an arm 175 whose free end is bifurcated and straddles a guiding bar 176 supported from the plate 147 to keep said carriage from revolving with the shaft 145.

Fig. 14 shows the system of wiring employed between the mechanism in the cabinet and the mechanism on the table, showing how the wires leave the current source 211, and how they extend, join, cross, and branch ,in connecting with the cabinet motor 203,

the small switch 91, the strips 201 of the coin-chutes 26 and 27, how they connect with the chute-gates 204 by connecting with their pivot-pins 240, and the figure further shows how said wires extend, join, cross, and branch in passing from the cabinet to and through the table switch 160, the table motor 230, and its field-coils 215.

Figs. 2, 3, 13, and 14 show the position of the parts when the table is covered and no current is flowing.

Upon dropping a coin into either of the chutes 26 or 27 the chute strip 201 and the gate 204 are connected, causing the current to flow as indicated in Fig. 15 and running the cabinet motor 203 to drive the sliding bar 46 on its return travel. Upon said travel of the bar 46, and disk 54, the arm 110 of said disk forces the shoulder 111 downward and swings the switch lever 96 to and across the dead-center line W-W, said lever flipping to its limit on the opposite side of said line and shifting the switch 91 into the position shown in Figs. 9 and 16. lVith this switch in this position the current flows through the table motor 230, as shown in Fig. 16, causing said motor to run in a direction to uncover the table.

The movement of the drum shaft 145 brings the carriage 171 to a position to shift the table switch 160, as aforesaid, into the position shown in Figs. 13 and 17 just as the table is fully uncovered, thus placing the current again through the cabinet m0- tor 203, as shown in said Fig. 17. Vith the current thus flowing the cabinet motor starts and resumes the return travel of the bar 46, the presence of the coin in the chute 26 causing the crank-arm roller 45 to positively stop said bar and thus resist the movement of the upper end of the lever 60, the disk 54 supporting said lever continuing to move until the small disk 57 which engages the small arm 58 is moved by the inner end of said lever 60 and swings said arm, against the action of the spring 90, to and across the dead-center line U-U, and allows said arm to flip to the position shown in Fig. 9. As the arm 58 flips to this position it strikes a pin 177 on the edge of the middle disk 56, thus shifting said disk and the lever 67 engaged thereby into the position shown in Fig. 9, and the small pinion 66 carried by said lever into engagement with the slowspeed or timing pinion 7 0 to begin the time travel of the disk 54 and bar 46. During the time travel of the bar 46 the leaf spring 48 moves from engagement with the crankarm roller 45, thus releasing the engagement of the finger 41 with the coin and allowing said coin to drop out of the chute, and closely following the dropping of the coin the detent on the bar 46 closes the chute gate 204, as aforesaid. The time travel of the bar 46 and disk 54, during which travel the table remains uncovered for gaming purposes, continues until said bar 46 1S posi- 53 against the cabinet side 25 and resists the movement of the lever 60 carried by said disk, the disk continuing to be moved by the motor 203 until the small disk 57 which engages the small arm 58 is moved by the inner end of said lever 60 and swings said arm, against the action of the spring, 90, to and across the dead-center line UU, and allows said arm to flip to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the arm 58 flips to this position it strikes a pin 178 on the edge of the middle disk 56, thus shifting said disk and the lever 57 engaged thereby into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the small pinion 66 carried by said lever into engagement with the higher speed or returning pinion 68 to begin the return travel of the disks 54 and bar 46. Very closely preceding the flipping movements of the parts 58, 56, 67, and 66 just described, the arm 110 of the disk 54 slides the bar 111 upward, said bar bringing the switch lever 96 to the past dead-center and allowing it to flip toward the position shown in Fig. 2 until resisted by the sliding block 93, said block having been just previously locked against movement by the locking-rod 113 by reason of the presence of the second coin in the chute 26 or 27 and 'tively stopped by the abutting of the screw the consequentenergizing of the magnet 207 by a current furnished through the closed switch 122, as shown in Fig. 19. If, however, there be no coin in either chute, no

current will be furnished to energize the magnet 207, the block 93 of the cabinet switch will therefore not be locked, and the flipping movement of the lever 96 will shift the switch into the position shown in Fig. 2,

simultaneously with, or slightly in advance of, the flipping movements of the parts 58,

56, 67, and 66 above named. This movement of the cabinet switch 91 places it in position to break the current through the cabinet motor 203 and place it through the table motor 230 and field-coils 215, as shown in Fig. 18, said cabinet and table switch now standing in a position to pass the current through the table motor in a direction oppo site the original direction, while said current flows through the field coils 215 in the original direction, thereby running said motor in opposite direction and covering the table.

Upon movement of the drum shaft 145 in covering the table, the carriage 171 moves to the opposite end of its throw and shifts the table switch 160 into the position shown in Figs. 13 and 14, thus breaking all electric circuits and stopping movement of all parts until another coin is placed into the chute to again begin the several operations of part-s previously described.

What I claim is 1. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising in combination with a table, a cover, means to remove or spread said cover, and means for actuating said removing means at will and returning said cover after a predetermined period.

2. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, means for removing said cover and returning the same over said table and mechanism to put said removing means into operation at will to determine the interval before said cover shall be returned, and to automatically actuate said removing and spreading means to return said cover.

3. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a rolled cover, means for unrolling said cm'er over said table and rolling it therefrom, and means for unrolling said cover and returning it after a predetermined interval.

4:. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, a traveling roller from which said cover is adapted to be unwound to cover said table, means for pulling said roller, winding means to actuate said pulling means, and means in connection with said winding means for starting said winding means to uncover said table and to return said cover at the end of a predetermined period of time.

5. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, a traveling roller carrying said cover and being adapted to spread said cover over said table, means for causing said traveling roller to move along the slides of the table, winding mechanism for said moving means, and an apparatus in connection with said winding mechanism for starting said winding mechanism to roll said cover, to automatically measure a period of time during which said cover shall remain rolled, and to automatically start said winding mechanism to unroll said cover over said table.

6. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, a traveling roller adapted to spread or remove said cover, means for causing said roller to travel from end to end of said table transversely thereof, said means comprising a series of cables in connection with said roller, drums located below said table, and having cables directed thereto from opposite sides of the table and wound thereon, motive power for said drums, and means for starting said motive power to roll said cover, and automatically start said motive power at the end of a predetermined period of time to unroll said cover.

7 An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, means for moving said cover over and away from over said tables, and a mechanism having a continuous series of movements whose effect on said cover-moving mechanism is to cause the latter to uncover said table, measure a period of time during which said table is uncovered, and to cover said table at the end of said period.

8. An automatic protecting device for game tables, comprising, in combination with a table, a cover, a mechanism for rolling and unrolling said cover over said table, and a mechanism for actuating said rolling and unrolling mechanism, said actuating mechanism comprising a starting device for said rolling and unrolling mechanism and a time measuring device, said starting device being adapted to operate said rolling and unrolling mechanism before and after the operation of said time measuring device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAKE MANFRED STIVERS.

Witnesses:

D. H. CRAIG, D. J. KRAMER. 

